Liverpool edged League One Barnsley 4-1 but looked vulnerable; punters should consider Liverpool to win with both teams to score or back a narrow handicap rather than a big-margin bet, given defensive lapses and inconsistency shown in recent matches.
Liverpool survive Barnsley scare to reach FA Cup next round
Liverpool scraped past League One Barnsley 4-1 at Anfield after a night of high drama, individual brilliance and unforced errors that left questions over the Reds’ consistency. A sumptuous 35-yard strike from Dominik Szoboszlai and a thunderous finish from Jeremie Frimpong looked to have put the tie to bed, but a reckless moment nearly handed Barnsley a route back into the game.
Szoboszlai stuns then stumbles
Szoboszlai opened the scoring with a spectacular long-range effort, only to nearly undo his contribution minutes later. Racing back to win the ball, he attempted an ill-advised backheel inside his own six-yard area instead of clearing or resetting play, gifting Adam Phillips an easy finish and a lifeline for the visitors.
Frimpong, second-half drama and late finishes
Frimpong’s left-footed strike gave Liverpool a cushion after Barnsley threatened early, but the third-tier side kept probing and exposed lapses in concentration. A Virgil van Dijk volley was tipped onto the bar by Barnsley’s goalkeeper, and substitute Florian Wirtz’s curled effort in the 84th minute briefly reignited tension before Hugo Ekitike sealed the tie in stoppage time.
Team selection, bench strength and tactical notes
The coach made six changes while still fielding experienced names: Joe Gomez, Federico Chiesa, Curtis Jones and Andy Robertson featured alongside 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. A heavy bench — including several expensive summer signings — prevented the lineup from appearing weakened, but the performance underlined concerns over defensive focus and game management.
Turning points and controversy
Barnsley’s early chance hit the post inside 30 seconds, setting a nervy tone. Later, a tackle on Reyes Cleary that left Barnsley furious for a non-awarded penalty added to the frustration; without VAR review the incident went unpunished. Szoboszlai’s backheel remains the standout episode — a moment of reckless arrogance that momentarily shifted momentum.
Implications and betting angle
Despite the comfortable scoreline, Liverpool’s vulnerability suggests punters should temper expectations for big-margin wins. Safer bets include Liverpool to win with both teams to score, or backing over 2.5 goals. Avoid wide handicaps against a side that still shows defensive lapses and can be troubled by determined lower-league opponents.
Key stats and takeaway
Liverpool advance but leave plenty to work on: individual moments of quality were overshadowed by sloppy decision-making and patchy defending. The result keeps momentum but underlines why confidence in consistent, dominant performances should be measured.
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Szoboszlai showed a reckless arrogance with his attempted backheel inside his own six-yard area as the Reds eventually ran out 4-1 winners at Anfield.
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